How well should one describe cars in adverts

[p38arover]

If you are selling a car, should the advert list the known faults or let the buyer beware and check the car themselves?

It's a moral dilemma. :(

Ron

[George130]

I know most adds don't! You have two choices but I prefer to buy a vehicle where the owner goes out of their way to show you any issues as well as its good points. My problem is i'm to honest but it has also payed off on one occasion as the guy offered me %400 for a shell I thought I might get $50 if I was lucky.

[dobbo]

If honesty is the best policy then why are used car salesmen and realestate agents considered the most untrustworthy professions around.

Just highlight it's good point and a few of the obvious bad points, then when you sell it chuck in a bottle of tequila and some salt to go with their new lemon.:D

[crump]

there's a lot to be said for being honest, and everyone that ever ripped you off is saying it, SUCKER, screw em, it will help build character.:D

[hiline]

main reason for people selling 2nd hand cars

they are sick and tired of fixing them:D ;)

well thats the way i look at it otherwise why else would you sell it

[p38arover]

My wife thinks along the lines of Numpty's Missus.

Me? I value my integrity and I feel really uncomfortable not disclosing a problem which might be expensive to fix (and I might also get negative feedback on eBay).

I will not be home when people come to inspect the car. There have already been bids from people who have not inspected it. That makes me uncomfortable.

Ron

[D110V8D]

Be honest about it Ron. After all they will know where you live.;)

[dobbo]

Ron if you feel uncomfortable I'll sell it for you

















for a price;)


No-one is asking you to transform into Delboy or something, just offload the thing and get your daughter the Defender she wants.

[Frenchie]

I know what you mean Ron. My Defender is driveable, even with the cracked head. Someone suggested I just drive it home, change the oil and sell it - but I couldn't do that. :)

[p38arover]

I know what you mean Ron. My Defender is driveable, even with the cracked head. Someone suggested I just drive it home, change the oil and sell it - but I couldn't do that. :)

I'd have no qualms about selling it to a car sales yard..

Ron

[D110V8D]

I'd have no qualms about selling it to a car sales yard..

Ron

Well that is a very different story.:angel:

[abaddonxi]

I know what you mean Ron. My Defender is driveable, even with the cracked head. Someone suggested I just drive it home, change the oil and sell it - but I couldn't do that. :)


Bugger, I'm too honest, I never even thought of that.

There's a difference between not telling them what is wrong and the buyer not knowing how much the fix is going to be.

Sounds to me like the decision's already made.

I reckon also that ebay has created a niche for car sales that falls in between wholesale/auctions and tradingpost. Ebay doesn't seem to reach the same prices, and I always assume that there's something wrong with a car on ebay.

Cheers
Simon

[p38arover]

The high bidder is unverified and registered in China. He/she has bid 5 times. Seems suss!

Ron

[abaddonxi]

The high bidder is unverified and registered in China. He/she has bid 5 times. Seems suss!

Ron

Cancel their bids and put them onto your block bidder list. I can't remember how to find your block bidder list, best to go through ebay help, that's what I've done in the past. It's easier to do this all now rather than go through the whole palaver of resolution when they don't pay at the end of the day.

Cheers
Simon

[Captain_Rightfoot]

Interesting one this. I type a long reply before but closed the window by accident! :eek: :o :wasntme:

I think you have to describe the goods more carefully with Ebay.

[loanrangie]

I believe if you purchase ANY vehicle or expensive itm off ebay and you dont inspect prior to bidding then thats your fault, only exception is if something is really rare and you would buy it regardless. I recently sold my rangie on ebay to a guy from canberra who never inspected before he won but then he was getting a bargain.

[p38arover]

And what if, with less than 8 hours to go on the auction, the high bidder, who hasn't inspected the car, wants to know if there are any major repairs required?

Ron

[Blknight.aus]

Personally I will buy the vehicle from the guy who tells me more about whats wrong with it than the guy who come on with "Mate this car is perfect."

[loanrangie]

And what if, with less than 8 hours to go on the auction, the high bidder, who hasn't inspected the car, wants to know if there are any major repairs required?

Ron

You tell them "i,m not a mechanic so i suggest you get it checked "

[Ace]

I am like Ed, to honest for my own good. I tell people everything, because even thought most people wouldnt, i expect people to tell me everything. But unlike most people if i buy a dud car i wouldnt go back and knock down thier door as its my fault i bought it. That is unless i asked a direct question about something and it the failed after they told me it was in full working order. matt

[Scouse]

I've read your ad on eBay, Ron.
If they want to place a bid without an inspection first (which you've advised to do), then they only have themselves to blame.

[Bigbjorn]

If honesty is the best policy then why are used car salesmen and realestate agents considered the most untrustworthy professions around.

Just highlight it's good point and a few of the obvious bad points, then when you sell it chuck in a bottle of tequila and some salt to go with their new lemon.:D

All should remember the basic tenet of buying used goods. "Caveat emptor", "Let the buyer beware". Also remember that before the Real Estate Agents and Motor Dealers Act made a certain amount of warranty obligatory on most vehicles sold by a licensed dealer, all used vehicles were sold "as is, where is, with all faults, if any". If you find a dealer has misrepresented a vehicle, or disguised faults, it may be preferable to proceed under "The Sale of Goods Act" on the basis that the goods were not fit for their intended purpose. This legislation provides better recompense and stiffer penalties than the Motor Dealers Act which gives a slap on the wrist and a "naughty boy, don't do that again". In the case of private sellers this is probably the only way to proceed, other than hiring a couple of heavies with baseball bats.

[p38arover]

Well, it sold - and to a local LR owner who test drove it before bidding.

I'm now off to get a crack in the exhaust welded up. The middle support hanger rubber had broken and allowed the join between the pipe and the muffler to crack owing to the long unsupported weight.

Ron

[Ace]

Well, it sold - and to a local LR owner who test drove it before bidding. I'm happy with the price fetched.

Ron

That would explain why i cant find it on ebay now. Whats the plan now ron?

[FenianEel]

Well, it sold

Are you changing your username to p38aroverless then:D

[p38arover]

Are you changing your username to p38aroverless then:D

No, I've still got the P38A. I sold my daughter's car.

Ron

[FenianEel]

Ahhhhh....I see said the blind man

[weeds]

it depends on where you advertise it.

i brought my defender when it was advertised the the australian range rover forum 'can't remember the exact name' site unseen but i trusted the guy as i figuired one forum member would not rip of another forum member along with the owner having receipts for all the work carried out and the defender featured on a web site

when i sold my 2 door rangie on the same forum i listed everything good and bad as i figured if i stitched up somebody on the forum i doubt that i would get any assistance in the future

when i sold my cruiser in the trading post i only advertised the good points, not that there were many, i was selling it as the engine was using heaps of oil and was riddled with rust and i had been given the two door rangie from the inlaws

[Scouse]

i brought my defender when it was advertised the the australian range rover forum 'can't remember the exact name' site unseen but i trusted the guy as i figuired one forum member would not rip of another forum member along with the owner having receipts for all the work carried out and the defender featured on a web site

when i sold my 2 door rangie on the same forum i listed everything good and bad as i figured if i stitched up somebody on the forum i doubt that i would get any assistance in the future

That's what I thought when I bought a couple of tyres through AULRO that were supposed to have done less than 7000km with 85-90% tread left.
I picked them at night time, trusting the description then find out that one has more wear than my 60000km tyres & a patch inside covering a hole in the tread area.
My PM wasn't answered & I haven't seen him back on the forum since :mad: .

[p38arover]

Whilst the buyer of the car is an LR owner, I don't think he's on here.

Ron

[weeds]

That's what I thought when I bought a couple of tyres through AULRO that were supposed to have done less than 7000km with 85-90% tread left.
I picked them at night time, trusting the description then find out that one has more wear than my 60000km tyres & a patch inside covering a hole in the tread area.
My PM wasn't answered & I haven't seen him back on the forum since :mad: .

geez one still has to be carefull

i have sold and brought a few thing on here with no problems yet

[incisor]

the old adage "treat others as you would have them treat you" comes to mind.....

[p38arover]

the old adage "treat others as you would have them treat you" comes to mind.....

Precisely. The problem is that usually I'm too honest and I get screwed over.

Ron

[incisor]

i know the feeling....

[BigJon]

I bought some parts from someone here (a Victorian :eek: ) and he sent them to me without any payment. Once I had acertained that the parts were correct and in good order, I organised sending the money down to him.

I was pleasantly surprised that in this day and age someone was willing to take my word that the money would be forthcoming. :D

As noted elswhere, treat others as you would like to be treated.

[p38arover]

We rang the buyer and told him what was wrong with the car and told him he didn't have to buy it. If he did buy, we told him we'd take 1/3rd off the price.

He's going to take it at the new lower price.

I feel a lot better.

Ron